Suburban pubs hit hardest by closures with 17 lost a week

Analysis of figures supplied by the Campaign for Real Ale indicate that in the first six months of the year, a net total of 17 pubs were lost a week in suburban areas, compared with nine rural pubs and three high-street outlets.

29 closures a week 

CAMRA figures reveal there were a total of 54,194 UK pubs in December 2014, which fell to 53,444 in June 2015​. This was due to 1,234 closures in that six-month period, including 578 pubs in suburban areas.

CAMRA spokesman Neil Walker said: "Suburban pubs are classic street-corner, wet-led pubs and community locals that have been an integral part of British culture for hundreds of years. Unfortunately though, as drinking habits change and property prices rise, they are being hit the worst."

The analysis follows separate research last month that revealed a 4.4% decline in wet-led pubs​ and bars over the past year.

Wake-up call

Industry leaders said the figures should be a wake-up call to the Government.

British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: "We do need to keep up the pressure on the Government for policies that support pubs, not least our very high rates of beer duty, a business rates regime that overburdens pubs, and a look at VAT reform to boost the hospitality sector."

Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Kate Nicholls said there was cause for optimism in the hospitality sector, but added: "There are measures the Government can take to lessen the burden on existing venues. What we all wish to see is sustained investment that will drive growth. Wage pressures and labour costs will continue to hit hospitality venues and it is imperative these do not become prohibitive."

National treasure 

Community pubs minister Marcus Jones is aware of problems faced by pubs, and said he's determined to preserve the "national treasure".

"That is why we abolished the unpopular beer and alcohol duty escalators, cut business taxes for pubs and gave people the power to list their local as an asset of community value," he said. 

“There is now an increasing confidence in the beer and pubs sector with pubs diversifying, community ownership of public houses starting to take off and Britain’s booming brewing industry. But we recognise challenges faced by some pub owners and the communities they serve, both in suburban areas and right across the country, therefore we will continue to work with the sector to ensure it thrives.”